Method and apparatus for electrostatic coating of articles

Abstract

A continuous, automated method and apparatus for transporting and electrostatically coating articles including providing a plurality of articles in an unoriented bulk state, each article having a first end portion, orienting each article and transporting them into a desired position, transferring each article in succession to a moving conveyor, suspending each article from the conveyor by its end portion and conveying the articles for electrostatic coating and curing.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by letters patent is: 
     
       1. A continuous automated method of transporting articles from unoriented bulk to an oriented state for processing, comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of articles in an unoriented bulk state, each article having an end portion which substantially forms a point on said article;   orienting and transporting each of said articles into a desired position;   transferring each of said articles in succession from said desired position to a moving conveyor;   suspending each of said articles on said conveyor from said point of said end portion;   shielding each article from direct contact with said conveyor with endless belt means for shielding; and   conveying said articles for processing.   
     
     
       2. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said articles are composed of a ferromagnetic material and said step of suspending includes magnetically holding each article by said end portion. 
     
     
       3. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said step of transferring includes transferring and magnetically holding each of said articles in succession on a respective portion of a continuously rotating feed wheel. 
     
     
       4. The method as defined in claim 1 including electrically grounding each article during conveying.